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Death in St James's Park

Adventures of Thomas Chaloner, Book 8

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Death in St James's Park

By: Susanna Gregory
Narrated by: Gordon Griffin
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About this listen

Superspy of Restoration London, Thomas Chaloner foils an uprising in his eighth outing.

Five years after Charles II's triumphant return to London, there is growing mistrust of his extravagant court and of corruption among his officials - and when a cart laden with gunpowder explodes outside the General Letter Office, it is immediately clear that such an act is more than an expression of outrage at the inefficiency of the postal service. 

As intelligencer to the Lord Chamberlain, Thomas Chaloner cannot understand why a man of known incompetence is put in charge of investigating the attack while he is diverted to make enquiries about the poisoning of birds in the king's aviary in St James's Park. Then human rather than avian victims are poisoned, and Chaloner knows he has to ignore his master's instructions and use his own considerable wits to defeat an enemy whose deadly tentacles reach into the very heart of the government: an enemy who has the power and expertise to destroy anyone who stands in the way.... 

©2013 Susanna Gregory (P)2021 Hachette Audio UK Historical Mystery Fiction Government
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This is my eighth Chaloner listened to in series order. As ever, Susanna Gregory lays down a winding plot that teases and challenges the reader. You think you are near to identifying the villains and Gregory then surprises you with a further twist, or two. I always find the journey of her novels well worth the time invested. She paints a picture of restoration London that is a wake-up call to those weaned on expectations that once the monarchy was restored that the country would settle and focus on coming together. What we see is a London vice and plot riddled. The main character will be liked by any new listeners, and his reasoned view of the world a continued pleasure for those who follow the series. (I do suggest following the series, however.) Thomas Chaloner has his weaknesses which makes him a sympathetic character. The performance of the audio-book is serviceable, but I do hanker after a younger voice sometimes. Where next after this? The next in the series, of course. It is a must after the epilogue to this novel and readers - like me - will be worrying for our hero. That novel is already waiting in my Audible library and the hard-copy on my shelf.

Rewarding

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Susanna Gregory's excellent storyline twists & turns it's way through history facts & fiction. she takes us right in the middle of London with characters that really did exist. it must have been a very hard life.

another excellent Susanna Gregory story.

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This book story would be a triumph, if only it weren't for the epilogue! ( also might be better with a different narrator)

epilogue

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Another cracking story. Susanna Gregory continues to create edge of the seat adventures for Thomas Chaloner, I've read all the previous books in this series and she hasn't let me down e v e r ! I await reading/listening to the next book with some trepidation after listening to the epilogue on this one.....

Gripping

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